Latvia is already assembling the first batch of Patria 6x6 APCs for Ukraine, the transfer of which was announced on September 11, 2024 during the visit of the head of the Latvian government Evika Silinė to Kyiv. This became known from the message of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia Anatoly Kutsevol, who visited the plant in the city of Valmiera.
It should be noted that the number of Patria 6x6 APCs for Ukraine, which, together with other weapons, were included in the aid package totaling 40 million euros, as well as the timing of their transfer, were not announced.
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At the same time, for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, receiving additional armored vehicles in the form of Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers makes somewhat more sense. The fact is that currently the Finnish armored personnel carrier has every chance of becoming a pan-European vehicle. So, it is not only about the current Common Armoured Vehicle System program under the auspices of the European defense industry reinforcement through common procurement act (EDIRPA) for this particular vehicle.
More importantly, the Patria 6x6 APCs are already in service with Finland, Sweden and Latvia. A large-scale contract with Germany, which will replace its Fuchs armored personnel carriers with the Patria 6x6, is also being finalized. It is also known that the Patria company has begun preparations to supply its armored personnel carrier to the British armed forces. In addition, the Patria AMV 8x8 armored vehicles, or modifications based on it, are in service in a number of EU countries, in particular in Poland, Croatia and Slovenia.
That is, the opportunity to test the Patria 6x6 armored personnel carrier in real combat is very important from the point of view of forming own assessment and comparing it with other models, given that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will also need hundreds of such vehicles. It should be noted that the possibility of manufacturing Patria armored vehicles in Ukraine began to be discussed back in 2023.
The Finnish company Patria is known for its fairly significant localization of production in countries that agree to cooperate. In particular, a new enterprise was created in Latvia for the production of armored personnel carriers. It took three years to create it from scratch, given the lack of experience of the Latvian defense industry in the production of armored vehicles in general. The planned production rate is up to 30 vehicles per year. And in the UK and Germany, the company has chosen a strategy of merging with local defense companies - Babcock, DSL and FFG, respectively.
The Patria 6x6 is an amphibious armored personnel carrier with a maximum weight of up to 24 tons, of which up to 8.5 tons is the combat load. Basic protection – STANAG level 2 bulletproof with the possibility of strengthening to level 4 (protection against calibers 7.62 - 14.5 mm and blasting of 6 - 10 kg landmines, respectively). The vehicle has an independent suspension with springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, the first and second axles are swivel. The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a 400-horsepower diesel engine. The troop compartment can accommodate 10 people, the crew - 2 people.
According to its characteristics, the Patria 6x6 is not a unique development. However, this vehicle has a significant advantage - the price. This APC costs approx. 1-1.2 million euros per unit (using the example of contracts for Latvia from 2021 and 2024, as well as last year's order from Sweden). For comparison, this is the price of armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheel arrangement - the French Serval and the Australian Bushmaster PMV.
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